December 6, 2009

Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine?. Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” (Luke 17: 17-19)

The Feast of Saint Nicholas, December 6th
Our holy Father Nicholas gives us a beautiful example of a living, active, and sacrificial love of God and neighbor. His love of neighbor is universal, all-embracing, full of mercy and ready to assist in every necessity of soul and body. St. Nicholas saw Jesus Christ in his neighbor and that is why he quickly and generously hastened to help him in every need. The Holy Gospel says that at the Last Judgement the Lord will judge us by our works of love and mercy. Christ assures us of this when He says: “Amen I say to you, as long as you did it for one of these, the least of my brethren, you did it for Me.” (Matthew 25,40) Julian J. Katrij OSBM, A Byzantine Liturgical Year.

Conception of Saint Ann, December 9thWhen She Conceived the Most Holy Mother of God (Immaculate Conception)
How wonderfully and marvelously God prepared her who was to be the Mother of our Savior. She – full of grace, holly, most pure and immaculate – became the worthy tabernacle, in which the Son of God dwelt. Our ancient Slavonic Prologue contains the following instruction for the feast of the Conception of St. Ann: “Beloved, today is the beginning of our salvation. In the womb of the righteous Ann, after the annunciation of the angel, the grand-daughter of the Just Jesse, of the line of David, is conceived…And know beloved, that today we are celebrating the Conception of our Lady the Most Pure Queen – the God bearer, Mother of God. Therefore, let us hasten to her church with joy, and remain there in awesome prayer; with a vigil let us open the doors of the heavenly chamber, and let us beautify ourselves with prayer, alms and fasting. Thus let us celebrate the holy Conception of the Most Pure Lady the Mother of God devoutly and with joy, for She unceasingly prays to her Son and our God for us.” Julian J. Katrij, OSBM, A Byzantine Rite Liturgical Year

SACRAMENT OF PENANCE (CONFESSION) – Before Liturgies or by appointment. Parish members should go to Holy Confession at least once a month on average, or more often if there is a serious or mortal sin. In case of a serious or mortal sin, one may not receive Holy Communion, until they have first gone to Confession and received absolution. For small or ‘daily’ sins, one may receive Holy Communion as often as once a day, provided they have made an examination of conscience, a sincere Act of Contrition and recite the Prayer before Holy Communion, found in the text of the Liturgy.WELCOME – To all who are tired and need rest; to all who mourn and need comfort; to all who are friendless and need friendship; to all who are discouraged and need hope; to all who are hopeless and need sheltered love; to all who sin and need a Savior; and to whomsoever will,
this Church opens wide its doors in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ To all who are worshipping with us today – WELCOME!LITURGY REQUESTS – We ask that if you have dates on which you would like a liturgy offered that you make those requests as early as possible. Request for liturgy dates will be assigned in the order in which they are received. Contact the rectory office to make your requests.STAYING IN TOUCH – If there is anyone who is regularly unable to attend liturgy but would like to keep in touch with what’s going on in the parish, please contact the rectory office about receiving a copy of the bulletin through the mail.RELIGIOUS EDUCATION – Religious Education Classes will take a break this weekend for Thanksgiving. Classes resume next weekend, Saturday, December 5th in the church school building from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM.FOOD PANTRY DONATION – A total of 126 items were collected at the Turkey-Fest for the Catholic Community of North End Food Pantry. Our donation was taken to the food pantry last weekend in time to be used to assemble baskets for those in need at the Thanksgiving Holiday. Thanks to all who donated to this worthy cause.BIRTHDAY GREETINGS – Birthday Greetings to Myron Feszchak (12/8). May God grant him long life, good health and happiness. MNOHAYA BLAHAYA LITA!CHRISTMAS DECORATING – We will be decorating the church for the holidays today, Sunday, December 6th starting at 2:00 PM. Please come out to help, many hands will make short work.CHOIR PRACTICE – The choir will meet to practice for the Christmas Season after decorating on Sunday, December 6th. Please make every effort to come out and brush up on music for the upcoming holiday.CHRISTMAS CAROL SING ALONG – Our Choir’s Annual Christmas Carol Sing-Along will be held Sunday, December 13, 2009, starting at 2:00p.m. All are invited to join in the joyous singing of our traditional Ukrainian Koliada (carols) as well as many other, in anticipation of Christmas. Carols will be sung in the church followed by a cold buffet reception in the lower level of the church. Please feel free to contribute salads and or desserts for the event. Saint Nicholas will also pay a visit.PARISH SIGN DONATIONS – Plans are being finalized for our new parish sign. The sign will be roughly 2 feet by 5 feet, double sided and installed in front of the church. Renderings of the sign are posted on the bulletin board in the back of the church. If you’d like to make a donation to help defray the cost, please place your donation with the collection using a Supplemental Envelope from the back of the Church and label it “Parish Sign”.CEMETERY RULES & REGULATIONS – Out of respect for all parish families and their deceased members, these rules and regulations were designed for the uniform appearance, ease of maintenance, safety, and cleanliness of our cemetery. Please give your full co-operation. Thank you.
All decorations, including unplanted and artificial flowers, must be removed before March 31 or be subject to removal. Christmas decorations must be removed by January 31. All stone, metal, and other borders around monuments or memorials are prohibited. Only low borders, one inch above ground level, are permitted in front of hillside graves in order to prevent erosion. No shrub or tree planting is allowed. Loose stone and / or gravel are prohibited on any grave plot. Persons causing any damage to cemetery property will be liable. No dumping on the cemetery grounds or beyond the perimeter. No walking pets through the cemetery. No trespassing on cemetery property after hours. Cemetery hours are 7:00 AM to sundown. These Rules Effective Immediately.MALANKA 2010 – The 6th Annual Ukrainian New Year Dinner Dance – MALANKA – will take place on Friday evening, January 15, 2010, 6:00pm to 1:00am at St. Vladimir Parish Center, 428 North Seventh Avenue, Scranton. Michael Trusz and Kathleen Izak are serving as chairman and cochairman respectively. Tickets are $40 and can be obtained by calling Dr. Michael Labuda at 820-7105. Dinner buffet will include borchsh, holubchi, chicken Kyiv, kobasa, pyrohy and more, along with a cash bar. Dancing to the internationally known orchestra Fata Morgana and a late night champagne toast are also included.SLOATSBURG JUBILEES – During the next two years the Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate will be celebrating two milestones in their history. December 8th will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the American Province, under the patronage of the Immaculate Conception and during the coming year 2010, they will celebrate 75 years of ministry in the United States. The celebration of this double jubilee will take place during the weekend of December 11-13, 2009, being highlighted by a special Divine Liturgy of Thanksgiving and a banquet. Adds are being sold for a remembrance book, please pick up a copy of the ad form in the back of the church. In addition the Sisters are embarking on a project to build a shrine to Blessed Josaphata (their foundress) on the grounds of their home in Sloatsburg. The small chapel will be a place of prayer, open year round, where people could come to light candles and pray to Blessed Josaphata for her intercession before God. Memorial Pavers for the walkway leading to the chapel will be sold to help defray the costs of the construction. Forms to sponsor those pavers are also available in the back of the church.FEAST OF SAINT NICHOLAS – The Slovak Hertitage Society of N. E. PA cordially invites you to celebrate The Feast of Saint Nicholas by singing their beautiful Slovak Christmas Carols and sharing Christmas Memories. Slovak Hospitality will follow. Sunday, December 6, 2009, 2:00 p.m. at St. Matthews Evangelical Lutheran Church, 663 North Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA.CATHEDRAL CAROLS – Annual Festival of Christmas Carols will be held on Sunday, January 10, 2010 at 3 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia. Choirs from different parishes will participate. Everyone is welcome.PRINTED COPIES OF ‘THE WAY’ ARE AVAILABLE IN THE VESTIBULERENOVATION FUND – Should you wish to make a contribution to this fund please use the “Special Collection for Renovations to the Church Complex” envelopes that are available in the back of the church.

Philip’s Fast (Pylypivka)
From earliest times, the feast of Christmas was given equal rank with the feast of the Resurrection (Easter). For this reason the Typicon looks upon the Nativity of Christ as another Pasch (Easter). In old typicons and liturgical Psalters, under the 25th of December, there is this note: “The Pasch, a three day feast.” Thus, just as the faithful prepared themselves for the feast of the Pasch with prayer and fasting, so too, they prepared themselves for the coming of Christ the Savior with the Christmas fast. (Julian J. Katrij, OSBM, A Byzantine Rite Liturgical Year)